Lucy Ratcliffe

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Lucy Ratcliffe (born Lucy Emily Ratcliffe in North Shields, Tyne & Wear) is an English fashion model and the inaugural winner of Britain's Next Top Model

Early life

Lucy suffered from eczema whilst growing up in Cullercoats. Lucy also stated she hasn't always been beautiful and that it was more of the ugly duckling situation.

Before entering the show, Lucy worked as a barmaid/waitress in North Shields, North Tyneside and attended Whitley Bay High School. After seeing an advertisement after an episode of America's Next Top Model announcing a British version of the show, Lucy decided to send in a video tape and pictures of herself and got a callback for a live audition.

Britain's Next Top Model

Lucy at the beginning of the show, seemed at times a little insecure in her skin, and did not seem like a frontrunner for the Britain's Next Top Model title, but did take good photos. Lucy's makeover wasn't drastic. Her sandy blonde hair was dyed more blonde. She appeared in the bottom two twice. Despite this, she eventually came out of her shell, made it into the final two, and stunned the judges with her catwalk on the final runway challenge of the competition. Judges even thought she was better than the professional models. Lucy won the competition, receiving a modelling contract with Models 1 in London, a cosmetics campaign with Ruby & Millie Cosmetics, and a fashion spread in B Magazine. Then-host, Lisa Butcher, thought Lucy grew self-confidence over the ten weeks of the competition, and proved that "She has what it takes to cut it in all aspects of modelling."

After Britain's Next Top Model

Lucy was signed with Models 1, she has said about her job, "I love the creative aspect. You get to meet interesting people, people who think like you but also people who are completely different. You can be rewarded for being who you are, but also being able to act as someone else when required on a shoot or in a show."

Lucy reappeared on Britain's Next Top Model, Cycle 2 to give advice to the contestants, including Lianna Fowler and Abigail Clancy

In April 2007, Lucy appeared on the cover of Country House Magazine. Lucy left Models 1 and signed with Profile Model Management under the name Lucy Barry. She is currently based in the United States.

With her boyfriend, designer Amal Guessous, Lucy is planning to open an A&G Rock N Roll cashmere store in Knightsbridge, London by early summer 2009.